VIDEO: Sam Winnall is enjoying life at Sheffield Wednesday

Dom Howson

It is still early days, but the signs are encouraging that Sheffield Wednesday’s new strikeforce will give them a greater cutting edge in the final third.

There looks big potential in the Sam Winnall and Jordan Rhodes partnership.

Both players found the net and opened their Owls goalscoring accounts in Friday’s 3-0 victory over Birmingham City.

While Winnall dropped deep to receive possession and link the midfield and forward line, Rhodes spearheaded the attack. The duo ran the Blues defence ragged and Winnall could quite easily have scored four or five goals.

Winnall said: “It is a pleasure to play with Jordan and I really enjoyed it and I think he did as well.

“We kind of complimented each other and it was great for us to get off the mark in front of the fans at Hillsborough and hopefully we can go from strength to strength.”

Sam Winnall

Winnall, who started his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers, is confident he can form a lethal combination with Rhodes.

“Jordan looks to play on the shoulder more and play on the last man, whereas I look to drop in and link the play a little bit more,” he said. “That is probably why we compliment each other a little bit because we have got similairities in our goalscoring, but differences in our build-up and play.

“I really enjoyed it on Friday and hopefully it can be the start of a good partnership.”

Sam Winnall

Scoring on his full home debut in front of the Kop was a moment that Winnall will not forget in a hurry.

He acknowledged: “It was fantastic. Obviously to get my first goal for the club in front of the Kop in a game where it needed a goal to secure the points, it was fantastic and a grand moment.

“It was special and very enjoyable.

“Scoring is good not just for your own confidence, but good for the fans too and it is always special when it gives them chance to celebrate one of your goals.”

“The cross was fantastic and could not have been any better and it was pretty much perfect,” he said. “Hunty has got that in the locker and hopefully it is something I can benefit from for the rest of the season.”

Only two players have scored more English league goals since August 2013 than Winnall. One of them is Manchester City superstar Sergio Aguero. The other is Nottingham Forest loanee Ross McCormack.

Winnall, who has netted 65 times in that period, said: “It is a nice stat and something I am quite proud and always back myself with my goalscoring ability and just want to keep going and scoring goals.

“I love scoring goals. It is my favourite part of being a footballer and since I have been a child and it is something I will never stop loving.

“I want to keep repaying the club for the faith they showed in me.”

The 26-year-old, a £500,000 January acquistion from Barnsley, would love nothing more than to achieve back-to-back promotions. His dream is to play in the top-flight, having worked his way up through the lower leagues.

He said: “It is every footballers’ dream. As a kid, playing in the academy or whatever, you want to be playing in the Premier League. You watch Match of the Day on Saturday and that is where you want to be and it is something I will aim for until I am there.”

Despite back-to-back league wins, Winnall is urging the team not to look too far ahead.

“We can only control our own performances and not look at other teams who we think are coming for our spot,” said Winnall. “We must keep on getting points and winning games. We have won our last two home games and want to keep building on it.”